All Saints Parish Newsletter 14th July 2017

Wednesday 12th July 2017

Dear Friends,

This past week, the Church of England celebrated two figures whose path took them into relative obscurity, but who initiated developments which shaped church life long after their deaths and continue to do so.

In the early years of the 6th century, appalled at the city's immorality, the young Benedict of Nursia abandoned his studies in Rome for a hermitage. He attracted a group of disciples who looked to him for spiritual guidance and leadership. After settling at Monte Casino, he codified his Rule. This became one of the most influential documents in the medieval world; shaping not just the monastic life, but much of medieval society. Communities living under the Rule proved able to adapt to new circumstances and challenges, including the preservation of classical culture and learning and the evangelization of northern Europe.

The Rule also acted as an inspiration for renewal when monasteries became too comfortable and compromised. In our own day, as well as new Benedictine communities like the Anglican Mucknall Abbey in Worcestershire and Roman Catholic ones like the French Jerusalem Community, there is renewed interest in the moderate wisdom of the Rule as a guide to life in the world beyond the cloister.

John Keble is commemorated on Friday 14th July, because John Henry Newman dated the beginning of the Oxford Movement, of which this church of All Saints is a product, to the preaching by Keble of the Assize Sermon on this day in 1833. A sermon for judges seems an unlikely catalyst for a spiritual revolution. Keble used it to protest against government interference in the Church and to recall the Church to a sense of its spiritual identity.

Unlike Newman, Keble was no controversialist. He would exchange a brilliant career at Oxford for ministry in a country parish as Vicar of Hursley in Hampshire. He would spend the remaining 30 years of his life there; carrying out the duties of a parish priest, continuing his scholarly work and carrying on a large correspondence with many to whom he acted as a spiritual guide.

The lives and ministries of a monk in 6th century Italy and a country parish priest in 19th century England would seem very far removed from each other, and both from a city centre parish in cosmopolitan, multi-cultural 21st century London. Looking deeper, however, we discover common threads linking them with each other and with us.

Benedict saw the monastery as a “school of holiness,” in which the community's life of prayer, work and study provided the context and support for the conversion of life. Keble thought of his parish in the same way. We, in a parish dedicated to the communion of saints, a communion in holiness, in holy things, should recognize our calling to be the same.

At the heart of monastic life is the Divine Office, the daily recitation of the Psalms and the reading and reflection on the Scriptures, which is the Opus Dei, the work of God. At the heart of Keble's parish life was the same daily routine of prayer and scripture in the simplified form devised by Cranmer for the Common Prayer of the Church of England. The same is true, and has been for more than a century and a half here in Margaret Street.

A Benedictine monastery is set apart from the world but not sealed off from it: one of its ministries is that of hospitality. A parish church must be actively engaged in the world, open and welcoming to those outside. At the same time, if the church is to maintain its Christian character, its distinctiveness as a sign of the kingdom of God, then its worship and prayerful engagement with scripture, with the word that goes forth from the mouth of God, and “shall not return to me empty, but....shall accomplish that which I purpose and, succeed in the thing for which I sent it,” in Sunday's reading from Isaiah (55.10-13) ; the “word of the kingdom” in the Parable of the Sower in Sunday's Gospel (Matthew 13.1-9; 18-23), are essential if it is to bear fruit.

PARISH PILGRIMAGE TO WALSINGHAM - Friday 21 to Monday 24 July. Places are limited but contact Ross Buchanan (Mob: 07905 863578 or email: ross.r.buchanan@btinternet.com) and he will try to fit you in.

“HELP US TO STAY”Wednesday 26 July, 7pm An illustrated talk on his recent pilgrimage to the Lebanon with Aid to the Church in Need, by Fr. David Ackerman, Vicar of St. John's, Kensal Green. Aid to the Church in Need was one of the charities supported by the 2016 Bishop of London's Lent Appeal, and one of All Saints’ Lent Appeal projects.

11am HIGH MASS with Choir and Sermon Guest Preacher: The Revd Canon Grace Kaiso, General Secretary of the Council of Anglican Provinces of AfricaGabriel Jackson Missa Sanctӕ Margaretӕ Arr. Tippett O, by and by

Sunday Lunch this week is being prepared by Robin Clutterham. The menu is:Summer chicken with salad followed by dessert. Please see the full Menu in the courtyard.Tickets £5 on sale at the Parish Shop before and after Mass.

The Church Army hostels and programmes in Marylebone empowering homeless women into independent living. The USPG-led UMOJA, HIV Project in Zimbabwe, enabling people living with HIV and Aids to have positive lives, and The Soup Kitchen (American International Church, Tottenham Court Road) feeding up to 80 vulnerable people daily in central London.

Men’s clothing especially is needed by the Jesus Centre in Margaret Street and also by the Soup Kitchen at the American International Church, both of whomprovide a daily range of services to homeless people. If you have women’s or men’s clothes to give away, please bring to Church and leave at the Parish Office so we can continue to help support our neighbours’ efforts. The Church Army is now also collecting women’s clothes for their Homeless Hostel so all donations can be found a good new home!

The Soup Kitchen team (only part-time cover) asks: ‘Please drop me a line if you are planning to drop things off here. As always, many thanks for your support.’Soup Kitchen at the American International Church, 79a Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 4TD T: 020 7580 2791 www.amchurch.co.uk/soup-kitchen/

Further Communications or Assistance from All Saints Margaret Street:-* If you would like to encourage others to take an interest in All Saints/keep up with what is happening here, please forward this email on to them, or to people you would like to invite to services or tell them about our websitewww.allsaintsmargaretstreet.org.uk, which has a full colour 360 virtual tour for viewing the wonderfully restored interior of the Church – seewww.allsaintsmargaretstreet.org.uk/history/virtual tour – before a visit or if unable to travel.

* If you know of others (near or far) who would like to receive this regular update on what’s happening at All Saints please encourage them to sign up for the email on the All Saints website – see the tab News & Events> Weekly Newsletter.

* If you would like prayers offered at All Saints, please email the Parish Administrator Mrs Dee Prior at: astsmgtst@aol.com. Or make use of the prayer request facility on the website at: www.allsaintsmargaretstreet.org.uk/prayer.

* If you would like any pastoral assistance, please do not hesitate to contact: